San Diego

San Diego lawyer Ron Mix, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member who played offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers from 1960 to 1969, was found guilty of securities violations and negligence Friday in a civil suit brought by a general contractor involved in three 1979 building projects.

In delivering his verdict, California Superior Court Judge Alpha Montgomery said, “It wrenches the depths of my being in ruling against Mix and (co-defendant Mona) Suter,” whom Montgomery identified as “victims” of Richard A. McKee, the former owner and operator of McKee Construction Co. McKee is serving time in prison for the diversion of investors’ money, Montgomery said.

General contractor Frances Jackson accused McKee, Mix and Suter of negligence, fraud and breach of fiduciary duties in connection with three construction projects. According to court documents, Mix served as attorney for McKee Realty, which was associated with the three disputed projects. Suter was vice president of McKee Construction Co. Jackson was awarded $600,000 in punitive damages, which was apportioned among Mix, Suter and McKee.

The ruling will be appealed said Mix’s attorney, Mitchell Lathrop, a managing partner with the law firm of Rogers & Wells. “We believe that Mr. Mix was the victim and the court, in its decision, agreed,” Lathrop said Friday. “Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case, the facts get distorted after 10 weeks of trial.”

Mix “did not receive one penny of Mr. Jackson’s money,” Lathrop said, adding that “McKee solicited Jackson and spent his money.”

“Mr. Mix was not an officer, director or shareholder of McKee Construction Co. and did not have access to its books,” Lathrop said. “There was, therefore, no reason for Mr. Mix to have involved himself in any wrongdoing or to mislead or withhold any information from” Jackson.